New details have emerged regarding the tragic discovery of a deceased infant in a closet.
Laken Snelling, aged 21, was taken into custody last month and is facing charges including abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing the birth of an infant.
The police released a statement describing the events: “On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, around 10:30 a.m., officers were dispatched for an unresponsive infant at a residence in the 400 block of Park Avenue. When officers arrived, they located an infant that was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“Laken Snelling, 21, was arrested on August 31, 2025, and charged with Abuse of a Corpse, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Concealing the Birth of an Infant. She is currently being held at the Fayette County Detention Center. Ms. Snelling is the infant’s mother.”
Snelling, a student at the University of Kentucky studying Interdisciplinary Disability Studies, has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is scheduled to appear in court again on September 26.
Currently staying at her parents’ home, Snelling was released on a $100,000 bond by a Fayette District Court judge on September 2. As the investigation progresses, additional details about the tragic incident have surfaced, particularly concerning where the infant’s body was discovered.
An incident report from the Lexington Police Department reveals a 911 call was made on August 27, leading to the discovery of the infant in a closet. The cause of death and the baby’s gestational age remain undetermined, but the coroner’s office has confirmed the infant was a boy.
The report indicates, according to PEOPLE: “Complainant just found a dead baby in a closet. It is cold to the touch.”
The identity of the caller was redacted from the report.
The report further states that Snelling was not present when emergency responders arrived at the property. She was located approximately five minutes away and taken to police headquarters for a medical check. The college student was subsequently arrested a few days later.
Although Snelling is confirmed to be the mother, a paternity test for her ex-boyfriend has been conducted to ascertain if he is the father of the deceased child.
Izaiah Hall was reportedly in a relationship with Snelling before she dated Jordon Connor.
The paternity test results are still pending to identify the father of the baby.
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